Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

When you are riding high on success, everyone wants to be part of it. If Belgium - like so many other countries - may have been struggling to get big names taking part in the Eurovision, a few years of success has changed it all. After the success of new, fresh and rather unknown talents of Loic Nottet, Laura Tesoro and Blanche most every Eurovision wannabe of the yesteryears is lining up now from Natalia to Kate Ryan, from Gene Thomas to Isabelle A, De Romeo's, Belle Perez and Ozark Henry, most adding "if the song is right".  Peter van de Vleire however revealed VRT will be delecting once again internally and this blogger thinks they might stick to the young, fresh and new talent formula instead. (Something like Emma Bale for example!) Maybe they should, too, judging the videos below.... But then who knows? Maybe Kate Ryan does deserve a new chance after her 2006 disaster?

Some years ago MTV and Eurovision were living in a parallel realities never even getting close. Then slowly some Eurovision entrants or wannabes started popping up in the nominees or even winning awards (maNga, Marco Mengoni, Lena, Dima Bilan...) This year is no exception, as many as six Eurovision stars are nominated in their home countries to be the one and only for the race for the ultimate award: in Italy we have Francesca Michielin and Emma , in France Amir , in Belgium Laura Tesoro , in the Netherlands Douwe Bob and finally in Poland Cleo , who battles it out with wannabe Margaret .  In Romania this year's runner up Vanotek is nominated. Special mention for Spain's Alvaro Soler who would be pefect for Eurovision.... who knows? In Finland it might be in pack for Antti Tuisku this year crowning his newfound megasuccess. The other nominees are Eveliina who has taken the spotlight from her girlfriend Sanni a bit (last week the girls were in the singles top-...

Last but not least, Belgium. Not among my favorites but it seems they are doing everything and right and making most of their song. High energy, silver and white wardrobe and a lot of dancing around. It seems that Laura does a decent job with the vocals, too, and isnät that annoying "wrong for this song" singer anymore. 

Last but not least, Belgium Now we have seen all the semifinalists on stage. Laura has two male and two female dancers with her. All in casual wear today. They have handkerciefs in Belgian color they throwaway in the beginning - are they suffering from spring allergies like the rest of us? Enter wind machine. Orange, yellow and red for the lights. The backing singers/dancers have podiums they use, and Laura herself is all over the stage including the catwalk.  Great energy and fun some say. Great ending or at least happy ending for the semifinal after Georgia and Albania. Will propably qualify thanks to that but I'm still not a fan.  In the Meet & Greet the young but experienced Laura tells everything was awesome in the arena. She thinks she will learn a lot these weeks to take with her in her future career. And she wants to make her country proud. She didn't believe she would win in Belgium and will scream even louder and higher voice when she wins here. Right. And y...

Another four female voices in this review. CZECH REPUBLIC - GABRIELA GUNCIKOVA - I STAND (Christian Schneider, Sara Biglert, Aidan O'Connor) Gabriela Gunčíková has made her way through some talent shows and a lot of live experience to the Eurovision as internally selected artist and a song by an international team. Blogilkar: This leaves me confused. Can't remember a thing afterwards even if when I hear it it's ok. But then this is sounding very familiar and heard a zillion times before. She's good, better than the song that is unnoriginal. Manufactured. 6 Jack:  The Czech entry is one of my favourites. It's sublime and if the Czechs don't make the final, I wouldn't blame them withdrawing. Can't wait to see the live performance. It's their best ever effort. 9.5 Peter:  Dramatic entrance, and a decent build up, but leading to a disappointing climax. I don't expect it to get to the final, but you never know. 4  Robert: This song d...

The winner is..... Laura Tesoro. What's the pressure? And we have the superfinal Laura Vs. Tom Laura and Tom went to the superfinal thanks to juries. International and Belgian juries. Now the televoters will vote one of them to Stockholm..... And we are back live.... the results.... Amaryllis Uitterlinden - Kick the habit She had everything on stage from flying lampshades to spider web and dancers but somehow it all worked. Well sung, interesting and catchy song. Way too underrated! Sometimes too much is not enough - take not Astrid. This might have just become my favorite :-)   Astrid Destuyver - Everybody aches Casually dressed, a couple of dancers. Kinda nice but still not quite there. Maybe just too many ingredients and the result is a bit mess of nothing.... Tom Franzis - I'm not lost Better than last week for sure. His guitar must give him safety. Still very Softengine. Still not going anywhere really. Three minutes of the same rep...

Belgian five presented their songs last Sunday and tonight's the final, with the stage sow they plan to do in Stockholm in case of a win. Let's see what they add to them, as they were pretty fine as they were. After last year's outstanding Rhythm inside unfortunately all these five seem rather bland and weak. Basicly all five lack a proper hook, or something that would make them stand out. But, this said here are my opinions. And you can watch the final here from 20.25 CET.  Amaryllis - Kick the habit One of the better ones. Nice atmosphere, rather catchy chorus and this could be worked into something great on stage but Amaryllis needs to relax and get that sparkle in her eyes, get flirty and saucy. Now she looked a bit lost which is a shame.  Tom - I'm not lost Tom performs pretty nicely. The song starts off nicely but then halfway it is already clear he is lost in the middle of nowhee, no matter what he sings. The song is not going anywhere but goes r...

Ahead of this Sunday's first presentation of their entries the song titles have been revealed. Meanwhile get to know the artist by checking out their cover version of some famous Eurovision songs last Sunday here . Amaryllis won that first show, but that has no effect on the final result. As said, the songs will be only presented. The songs with their staging the way it would be then in Stockholm 2016 Eurovision will be seen only on 17th at the final. There will be an international jury plus televote to decide who gets the ticket.  Adil Aarab – In Our Nature Amaryllis Uitterlinden – Kick The Habit Astrid Destuyver – Everybody Aches Laura Tesoro – What’s The Pressure Tom Frantzis – I’m Not Lost

Belgium starts selecting its entrant tonight. Five artists were names earlier and tonight they will have a moment to showcase themseleves to the public by singing Eurovision covers..... We will hear their eventual entries only next Sunday. And the again in two weeks in the final where they will present their songs as they wiould be in Stockholm. There will be 50-50 televote-international jury in the final.  Adil Araab - Hold me now (Johnny Logan, 1987) Amaryllis Uitterlinden - Euphoria (Loreen, 2012) Laura Tesoro - Düm Tek Tek (Hadise, 2009) Astrid Destuyver - Everyway that I can (Sertab Erener, 2003) Tom Frantzis - Rhythm Inside (Loïc Nottet, 2015) Heroes (Måns Zelmerlöw, 2015)

Belgium is having a small scale national final this year. There will be three shows; on January 3 the artists will be performing covers, the week after their entries and in the final on January 17 they will perform their songs the way they plan to do it in Stockholm if case they win. There will be 50% televote and 50% international juries (10) combined vote.  Laura Tesoro is a 19-year-old singer-actress known from a soap opera and participating in the Voice.  Adil Aarab (25) is the frontman of Adil & A.K.A. a soul and blues band but it seems he's taking on this adventure solo.  Amaryllis Uitterlinden (33) is also a singer/actress/songwriter who got her first notoriety in a talent show. She's done musicals, theater and television besides recording a couple of albums.  Tom Frantzis (24) is a singer-songwriter and Astrid Destuyver (23) completes the cast. At this point I'm looking most forward to Adil's effort.....